Luke, you have just finished a theoretical course.
But plumbing is a 95% practical job.
You dont say what you are doing and how you are going to get the practical experience you need.
When I take a trainee I apply my "seven" rule! The first time he does it under my very close observation and instruction, second time with less instruction and the third time with little instruction.
Fourth and fifth times are expected to be done perfectly without firther instruction.
Sixth and seventh are done on different days after a week or so. If these are completed successfully then he is potentially able to do it for a customer with minimal observation until its completed.
But thats only doing the basic practical tasks. Much of the practical knowledge is gaining experience in diagnosing faults and devising repair strategies.
One trainee ( 43 y.o. ) was over keen to advance too quickly so I found a bathroom install where the customer did not want to pay much but was willing to help.
I checked with the trainee halfway through the first day only to find he had made little progress because he had been digging out the soil pipe himself which was a task previously agreed for him to supervise the customer to do.
Its vitally important to learn the practicalities as well as the business implications.
As far as I can tell that trainee, five years later is no longer a self employed plumber!
Tony
But plumbing is a 95% practical job.
You dont say what you are doing and how you are going to get the practical experience you need.
When I take a trainee I apply my "seven" rule! The first time he does it under my very close observation and instruction, second time with less instruction and the third time with little instruction.
Fourth and fifth times are expected to be done perfectly without firther instruction.
Sixth and seventh are done on different days after a week or so. If these are completed successfully then he is potentially able to do it for a customer with minimal observation until its completed.
But thats only doing the basic practical tasks. Much of the practical knowledge is gaining experience in diagnosing faults and devising repair strategies.
One trainee ( 43 y.o. ) was over keen to advance too quickly so I found a bathroom install where the customer did not want to pay much but was willing to help.
I checked with the trainee halfway through the first day only to find he had made little progress because he had been digging out the soil pipe himself which was a task previously agreed for him to supervise the customer to do.
Its vitally important to learn the practicalities as well as the business implications.
As far as I can tell that trainee, five years later is no longer a self employed plumber!
Tony
